WIGHTLINK THANKS PUBLIC FOR 2025 FEEDBACK AS NEW IMPROVEMENTS ROLL OUT
Wightlink has been engaging with Island residents as part of its 2025 round of Meet the Team events and delivered a number of improvements following positive community engagement throughout the year.
Senior Wightlink mangers welcomed both members of the public and representatives of Solent Transport Users Group (STUG) to the final Meet the Team event of 2025 at Quarr Abbey. Wightlink have also met with the STUG several times over the course of 2025 to hear their feedback and discuss improvements.
A wide range of topics have been discussed at these events including multilinks, accessibility, the discounted fare scheme, support for specific local teams and horsebox pricing. Any queries that cannot be resolved or answered on the night are taken away and investigated further by the Wightlink team. Questions and answers are also published on their website.
A total of 4 ‘Meet the Team’ sessions are held each year and are regarded as a valuable chance to hear the views of customers and to discuss possible improvements.
Wightlink used the latest event to highlight some of the changes put into place in 2025 following engagement and events such as the Meet the Team.
These improvements include:
- Adding a Multilink pass for blue badge holders and the ability to register additional people living at the same household to a multilink vehicle pass
- An extension to the discounted fares scheme to recipients of universal credit
- Introduction of two free foot passenger crossings for 16 and 17-year-olds
- Introducing and then extending the Sunset Flyer deal for Island residents
- Collaborated with Island MPs on free foot passenger crossings for 18-year-olds.
- Adding NHS dental appointments to the NHS 50% discount scheme
- Introducing a mid-week 20% midweek travel deal for vehicles
- Added retail offers to their Solent Savers discount booklet for Island residents
- Worked with the IW Prostate Cancer Support Group to make travel easier for those with incontinence issues
Wightlink CEO Katy Taylor said:
“We’ve really enjoyed meeting the community and receiving feedback at these events. We know that being a lifeline transport provider means that people feel strongly about our services and we are always open to feedback and discussions and do make change as a result of these conversations.
“It’s also been great to see STUG attend many events to represent their membership. We’re pleased to be engaging positively with them and, together, bringing about improvements. We are a complex business and while it’s not always possible to agree to every request, we hope it is clear that when we can make changes, we do.”
A provisional set of dates have been scheduled for 2026 and full details are listed on Wightlink’s website on the Meet the Team page. They are: 21st January at Ryde, 22nd April in Yarmouth, 15th July in Newport and 21st October in Fishbourne.
Venues will soon be confirmed but the events will all be held between 17:30 and 19:30.
